Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
3.5/5
When I was young, the toy-mation movie adaptation of this book was one of my favorite Christmas movies ever. It still is, although I don't watch it with the regularity of, say Muppet Christmas Carol. It was always a bit obscure -- it was not played every year like Rudolph or Frosty, and a lot of people had never seen it. I was thrilled to finally find it on VHS and later on DVD so that I can enjoy it for every Christmas and share it with my own kid(s) someday.
All of that preamble is to say that it was impossible for me to read this without my perception being clouded by nostalgia. Because the movie actually follows the book very well, reading the book was like seeing the movie in my mind once again -- and we've already established that I love the movie. Objectively speaking, if I read this without the context of my fondness for it, it may have felt a little like one of those books that was just one thing happening after the other without a really clear through-line. On the other hand, the prose was very often quite beautiful and it was easy to get swept away in the magic of the setting and the nostalgia of a Christmas origin story. I do think it's a pity that this is not as well known as Baum's Oz books, because I found it to be just as magical (although, like the Oz books, it did get a little clunky at the end.)
When I was young, the toy-mation movie adaptation of this book was one of my favorite Christmas movies ever. It still is, although I don't watch it with the regularity of, say Muppet Christmas Carol. It was always a bit obscure -- it was not played every year like Rudolph or Frosty, and a lot of people had never seen it. I was thrilled to finally find it on VHS and later on DVD so that I can enjoy it for every Christmas and share it with my own kid(s) someday.
All of that preamble is to say that it was impossible for me to read this without my perception being clouded by nostalgia. Because the movie actually follows the book very well, reading the book was like seeing the movie in my mind once again -- and we've already established that I love the movie. Objectively speaking, if I read this without the context of my fondness for it, it may have felt a little like one of those books that was just one thing happening after the other without a really clear through-line. On the other hand, the prose was very often quite beautiful and it was easy to get swept away in the magic of the setting and the nostalgia of a Christmas origin story. I do think it's a pity that this is not as well known as Baum's Oz books, because I found it to be just as magical (although, like the Oz books, it did get a little clunky at the end.)
Okay, this is a really sweet holiday book that I've never heard of! It's basically the origin story for Santa Claus and I love how he is saved as a human baby by the Immortals, raised by them, and eventually becomes the immortal Santa Claus we all know and love. I love how the reindeer become part of the mythology and how parents also become Santa's elves/helpers! This is a story I can see myself listening to annually!
This has easily become a favorite Christmas read aloud. So incredibly delightful. It reads like a mythology of Santa Clause. I highly recommend.
“‘In all this world there is nothing so beautiful as a happy child,’ says good old Santa Clause; and if he had his way the children would all be beautiful, for all would be happy.”
“‘In all this world there is nothing so beautiful as a happy child,’ says good old Santa Clause; and if he had his way the children would all be beautiful, for all would be happy.”
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Such a lovely holiday read! Baum's explanations of all the things that make Santa Santa was a lot of fun. I read most of it in front of the Christmas tree and enjoyed it.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Unexpected save the earth sub-plot but not to its detriment. A beautiful explanation of Santa’s origin; reading it feels like being read to as a child.